About Chandra Courtney

Classical Singer

Chandra Courtney Singer Biography, Interview & Pictures

Chandra Courtney (nee N. Chandrakantha) is a vocalist, composer, and teacher of Indian music.

Chandra began her career as a child singing for local cultural organizations in Vijaywada. She then became a child artiste with All India Radio (Vijaywada). It was during this period that she enrolled in the Government College of Music and Dance and began to study classical Indian vocal under the late J.V.S.Rao.[1]

Later she moved to Hyderabad and started working with All India Radio (Hyderabad) as well as the Hyderabad Doordarshan (TV). During the 1970s she was a frequent performer with both of these institutions. In fact when The Hyderabad TV station first came on air, her song was chosen to be the first song broadcast.[2]

In 1977, she was part of a cultural delegation to South Africa.[3] This was almost unheard of because India was boycotting South Africa at the time due to its racial policies.

It was also during this period that she was part of a major cultural delegation to Mauritius. this period she married her husband David Courtney. He was a US citizen so in 1980, they moved to the United States. David Courtney is a professional tabla player and music composer.

Since 1980 she has resided in Houston Texas. There she has contributed music for films, CDs and stage performances. She is the co-author of "Elementary North Indian Vocal" and was a contributor to the sitar method book/CD "Learning the Sitar".

She has taught many students in the Houston area. One of the most famous of her students was Mauli Dave of SaReGaMaPa fame.

She has received a number of awards, including: "Cultural Jewel of India",(ICC-2009)

She is presently living in Houston Texas, with her husband and two children.

Chandra Courtney is member of the group Vani, a musical group of Texas, which she toured with in Europe.

She performed in, and co produced the short experimental film Gayatri Mantra In Nava Raga - Rain. In 2011 this experimental film won a Bronze award at the "Worldfest - Houston International Film Festival" in the "Film and Video Art" category.